The Carolina Kostner Thread

I thought it's about time our new world champion deserves her own news thread! She has been so great this season and I am so happy for her ... Who would have thought that after three major meltdowns and being ripped apart and written off by the Italian media and the majority of people, she would come back this confident and win pretty much everything this season! I really look up to her for never giving up and fighting for her dream. It must have been so hard for her but her love for figure skating kept her going and I admire her for that

She has been mighty busy since Worlds, here are some news from the past two weeks:

That's nice jiggs. Any news on Carolina can be posted here to share with all.
It's heartening to know that hard work and persistence (of course with talent too) do pay off. Congrats to Carolina for the Worlds gold. She looks like a model on ice in her Ex. Beautiful skater with a gorgeous smile.

You know, I was kinda bit surprised to hear Carolina saying that her love of skating is not like before, that she's really fallen in love with it. I don't know what her future plane will be from now on but I think this season was really important, key moment for her. I hope she'll continue to compete, maybe she could be match the career of Irina, her (European) predecessor!

She's got splendid skating skills and that makes up for pretty much anything.

I don't know what her future plane will be from now on but I think this season was really important, key moment for her. I hope she'll continue to compete, maybe she could be match the career of Irina, her (European) predecessor!

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She said in interviews that she still doesn't know whether she will continue or not, the chances are 50/50. It's a big decision for her and another 2 years till Sochi, that's still a long time and a big commitment. She said she wants to take her time for that decision.

Personally, I would love for her to continue just to see two more seasons of her competitive programs. I think her and Lori work very well together and it would be nice to see what else they can come up with. On the other hand, I would certainly understand if she retires, she has been an elite skater for so long and deserves some rest!

THANK you for opening this thread Jiggs and of course also for the links.
Love Caro! Seeing her winning gold in Nizza was my 2nd best ladies moment in more than 20 years of figure skating. (It has been only toped by Irina winning the gold in Moscow).

BIG Congratulations to Caro! I really was in tear of joy that evening. Loved both of her programmes!

And despite some people criticizing the missing Lutz  I think Caro and Michael Huth made the right choice. Id rather watch a clean programme, that looks just light and easy, than a performance with more difficult triples that seems to be laboured and forces the skater to only focus on jumps. Caros skating looked so effortless. Her basic skating skills are just

She said in interviews that she still doesn't know whether she will continue or not, the chances are 50/50. It's a big decision for her and another 2 years till Sochi, that's still a long time and a big commitment. She said she wants to take her time for that decision.

Personally, I would love for her to continue just to see two more seasons of her competitive programs. I think her and Lori work very well together and it would be nice to see what else they can come up with. On the other hand, I would certainly understand if she retires, she has been an elite skater for so long and deserves some rest!

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I hope she will not retire. Im very happy she now seems to have learned to hold together her nerves in competition. Hope she will continue like this till Olympics Games in Sochi. I so much wish her to win a medal there. Whatever she decides to do, I just wish her the very best for her future.

Love Carolina. I remember the first time I saw her at the Europeans in 03'. I've been a fan ever since.
She has had many high points & many low points but has always shown grace & beauty.
I really felt for her during the Turin Olympics. Many would not have recovered from such a drama. But the very next season she won the first of her European titles because she is a fighter.
I wish her nothing but the best.
I would love to see her put this seasons free program away & try something non-classical next season but then bring the Mozart program back for Olympic year. She seems to have really connected with the music.
Carolina is a true Champion

I really felt for her during the Turin Olympics. Many would not have recovered from such a drama. But the very next season she won the first of her European titles because she is a fighter.

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Yes she is! It must have been devastating to have stellar practices so many times and then sub-par performances in competitions. Most people probably would have given in. After 2010 I too thought that Caro will never learn to handle her nerves. Rarely in my life Ive been so happy to be proven wrong.

Need to add here, that I'm pretty much impressed by her personality as well. She really seems to be a very nice girl and quite humble considering the talent she is and the results she had in her career. Great skater, great character!

And despite some people criticizing the missing Lutz  I think Caro and Michael Huth made the right choice. Id rather watch a clean programme, that looks just light and easy, than a performance with more difficult triples that seems to be laboured and forces the skater to only focus on jumps. Caros skating looked so effortless. Her basic skating skills are just

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I don't think I have ever seen her jump so well. It wasn't just that she did the jumps but the beautiful quality they had. When it works it is a pleasure to watch.

She looks like she really has belief in herself. Instead of being scared.
Also, she seems to take more time instead of rushing.
Pure bliss watching her this season

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To me it looks as if she is not only taking more time to set up jumps, but if she also enters them a bit slower. When watching her earlier it was not only her who seemed to be scared, actually it was scary to watch her as a viewer. It was scary & breathtaking at the same time to watch her when she went into the jumps with racing car speed.

BTW I thought it would be a nice idea to post here step by step chronologically all of Carolina's competitive programmes. - There are skaters, whose programmes I can just keep watching over and over again and Caro is such a skater for me. Here is season 2004 and 2005:

I had the great honour to be there and celebrate with her and all the people who love her. I´ll always remember this! She´s a great skater and a great person! She´ll always be one of my all-time favourite skaters! I´m soooo happy she won worlds! Still can´t believe it´s true ;-) But I´m soooo happy it is

This is one of the programs that Browning choreographed for her. She really looks like a fairy and skates that way too! Kurt also did the 2005-2006 FP to Vivaldi, which was excellent too. Both programs look extremely difficult in terms of transitions and steps and again, she is just so incredibly fast, like a breath of fresh air! Sometimes I wish she would perform these programs again now... and wonder what they would look like. She has improved so much and learned to take her time for each movement and element. I wonder if she will ever work with Kurt again. As much as I love Lori's programs (loved this and last year's), I think Kurt would do wonders with her nowadays!

Here come seasons 2006, 2007 and 2008. - As far as possible I opted for posting clean or almost clean programmes. So they are not neccessarily related to competitive success. If one thinks Caro skated any of the posted programmes better at another event, please feel free to add a link.

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Need to add here, that I'm pretty much impressed by her personality as well. She really seems to be a very nice girl and quite humble considering the talent she is and the results she had in her career. Great skater, great character!

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ITA. The Canadian commentators (including her choreographer, Lori) have on numerous occasions remarked on how lovely she is as a person.

I had the great honour to be there and celebrate with her and all the people who love her. I´ll always remember this! She´s a great skater and a great person! She´ll always be one of my all-time favourite skaters! I´m soooo happy she won worlds! Still can´t believe it´s true ;-) But I´m soooo happy it is

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How wonderful that you were there to witness it all in person. Lucky you!

Here come seasons 2006, 2007 and 2008. - As far as possible I opted for posting clean or almost clean programmes. So they are not neccessarily related to competitive success. If one thinks Caro skated any of the posted programmes better at another event, please feel free to add a link.

When i first saw Carolina back in 2006 at the Olympics she was skating so fast i though she was going to crash right into the boards she seemed so out of control. Speed is great but to much speed isn't.

A touching moment. The program is beautifull. And I remember that fall, I felt so bad for her. But the reaction of the crowd is amazing ! That's why sport is so good.
After the 3Loop, she looked delivered, too bad she didn't skate the whole program that way.

A touching moment. The program is beautifull. And I remember that fall, I felt so bad for her. But the reaction of the crowd is amazing ! That's why sport is so good.
After the 3Loop, she looked delivered, too bad she didn't skate the whole program that way.

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Actually Carolina nailed a gorgeous triple flip-triple toeloop in the warm-up (see the Eurosport coverage!) and I remember Barbara Underhill ( she was one of the commentators for CBC) saying she looked really really sharp in the warm-up as well. Such a shame she couldn't deliver it but oh yeah... a great learning experience anyway.

Thank you for all the links! so many beautiful programs. and her footwork sequences are always highlights for me. I don't think there is another skater in the women's field who does them better.

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You are welcome. I think her footwork would be even more amazing without COP - you have to do so much in so little time, a bit it tends to kill the flow. I'd rather wish to see one step element less but more flow, it would highlight her qualities even more. But I understand that Caro of course needs the levels as anyone else.

You are welcome. I think her footwork would be even more amazing without COP - you have to do so much in so little time, a bit it tends to kill the flow. I'd rather wish to see one step element less but more flow, it would highlight her qualities even more. But I understand that Caro of course needs the levels as anyone else.

Thank you for providing more links
I think that is one of the biggest issues people have with COP...how busy the programs can look and feel. but Caro's footwork and programs make me forget about all that.

I just love the sophistication in her movement; she really knows how to make the choreography come alive. and I appreciate that she is willing to experiment like she did in her SP this year.